Have you ever hesitated to speak your mind? Not because you were afraid of being wrong, but
simply because you weren’t sure if anyone would listen? Maybe you’ve seen someone get
ignored, felt that bitter sting of arrogance from others, or simply made a list of all the people with
whom your words won’t sit right. The truth is, we’ve all been there, and in those moments, we’re
faced with a powerful choice : keep shut or speak up. To speak up and voice one’s opinions in
such cases is, in my opinion, what would do justice to one’s intellect and one’s self. Voicing
one's opinion isn’t about being the loudest in the room or simply dominating the conversation.
It’s about standing firmly, even quietly, in your truth. It’s about sharing your perspective with
clarity and courage, knowing that your words — yes, your words — can shape someone’s
thinking, challenge the status quo, or even spark a ripple of change that travels farther than you
ever can.
In a world that is often a cacophony of noises, where opinions fly in from all directions and
where social media becomes a vessel overflowing with hot takes, it’s easy to believe that our
voice will get lost in said noises. But what we often forget is that pillar of authenticity which helps
our opinion stand, no matter how harsh the winds of noises get. When our opinion comes from a
place of genuine care, grounded thought, and a desire to contribute to something better, people
listen. Maybe not completely. Maybe not instantly. But they do. Think about all those small
speeches that fuelled passion into various movements. The lone tweets that drew attention from
all around the globe (not talking about Ye for sure). The school speeches that made all of us
whisper in the back benches. Not all of those voices began with a megaphone; maybe not all of
them had an audience. But, they all had one thing — conviction. Someone, somewhere,
decided that silence wasn’t enough. That someone can be you. You don’t need a nation
listening or a platform built on viral content to do it. What you need is the willingness to speak.
Whether you're writing a tweet, participating in a community meeting, or simply starting a
conversation at the dinner table, your opinion is a piece of the larger puzzle which can only be
completed together. Every person who chooses not to speak their mind out is a lost puzzle
piece. And who knows? Maybe the absence of this puzzle piece will end up changing the puzzle
in its entirety.
Voicing one's opinion also comes with responsibility. It’s not about being right but about being
real. It’s about listening as much as it is about speaking. It’s not simply a monologue but a
conversation with many. Change doesn’t come from monologues; it comes from connection.
The balance between the willingness to share your truth and being open to others’ is where
empathy lies. That’s where change takes root. And whenever I feel like speaking up is too much work or whenever I'm wondering what use it is to speak up at all, I try to remember one thing:
every major societal change started with a conversation. A letter. An idea. A question. Someone daring to ask, “Why not?” and that someone can be any of us. In a world that often encourages
silence in the face of discomfort, using my voice feels like an act of bravery. An act of love even.
Love for my community, my values, and my vision of a better tomorrow. Yes, I might not see the impact right away. Change is rarely immediate. But that doesn’t mean it’s not happening. I believe that my words plant the seeds to the tree that'll bloom tomorrow and the idea of that tree providing shade to countless others fills my heart with enough courage and enthusiasm to keep going.